Free fall simulator cooling system

Abstract

A free fall simulator comprising: a wind tunnel system; a flight chamber connected to the wind tunnel allowing for a continuous flow of circulating air, and a cooling system for cooling of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system, wherein the cooling system comprises: an air inlet sucking in a part of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system; at least one heat exchanger comprising a coolant; and at least one air outlet adapted such that the cooled air leaves the cooling system through the at least one air outlet. The cooling system further comprises: a closed pressure chamber comprising a cooling area having pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and at least one auxiliary fan. The at least one heat exchanger is located inside of the closed pressure chamber so that the cooling of the circulating air takes place in the cooling area.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A free fall simulator comprising:
 a wind tunnel system; 
 a flight chamber connected to the wind tunnel system such that the wind tunnel system and the flight chamber allow for a continuous flow of circulating air, and 
 a cooling system for cooling of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system, wherein the cooling system comprises: 
 an air inlet sucking in a part of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system; and 
 at least one heat exchanger comprising a coolant; and 
 at least one air outlet adapted such that the cooled air leaves the cooling system through the at least one air outlet; 
 
       characterized in that the cooling system further comprises:
 a closed pressure chamber comprising a cooling area, wherein pressure in said cooling area is higher than atmospheric pressure, and 
 at least one auxiliary fan configured to maintain pressure within the cooling area of the pressure chamber higher than the atmospheric pressure, 
 
       and in that the at least one heat exchanger is located inside of the closed pressure chamber so that the cooling of the circulating air takes place in the cooling area. 
     
     
       2. The free fall simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the air cooled in the heat exchanger leaves the heat exchanger in the direction towards the inside of the cooling area. 
     
     
       3. The free fall simulator according  claim 1 , wherein the closed pressure chamber comprises at least one intake window and at least one air outlet arranged such that the air inlet is located inside the intake window, and such that the cooled air leaves the cooling area through the air outlet. 
     
     
       4. The free fall simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet of the heat exchanger is arranged such that the cooled air from the heat exchanger is outputted towards one of the walls of the pressure chamber, wherein neither of said wall towards which the cooled air is outputted comprises an air outlet. 
     
     
       5. The free fall simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the air outlet is an elongated slot that extends across one of the walls of the pressure chamber, and across the entire width of the wind tunnel system. 
     
     
       6. The free fall simulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the air outlet has an aerodynamic shape adapted to direct the cooled air in a predetermined direction. 
     
     
       7. The free fall simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system and in the flight chamber is regulated by means of a closed cooling system. 
     
     
       8. The free fall simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the wind tunnel system and the flight chamber form a cyclic wind tunnel, wherein the wind tunnel system includes a diffuser, an upper horizontal section, at least one vertical section, a lower horizontal section, and a nozzle, wherein the cooling system is located in the lower horizontal section of the free fall simulator. 
     
     
       9. The free fall simulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the wind tunnel system comprises at least one loop having at least one fan, and wherein the cooling system is located behind said at least one fan in the direction of the circulating air. 
     
     
       10. A method of using of the free fall simulator according to  claim 1  for supplying heat to a building, wherein the temperature of the air circulating in the wind tunnel system and in the flight chamber is regulated by means of a closed cooling system.